Bombing Stats

Bombing Admin

As you probably know, I am training for my 5th Comrades. I will run 90km between Pietermaritzburg and Durban as part of what they call “The Ultimate Human Race”. It is a tough event but certainly something that anyone can do with a reasonable amount of determination and commitment. I am keenly aware that this is a very selfish endeavor and that it is only by the grace of those around me that it is possible for me to indulge my dreams.

When I ran my first Comrades you helped me raise funds, and together we made a very real difference in the lives of some children who will most probably never be able to run. Mthimkulu Stimulation Centre in Soweto cares for a number of physically handicapped children, and together we helped in a small way. I have not tried to raise money since that run, in 2008.

(There’s a point to this mail, so please keep reading.)

I recently met a couple of young leaders, Thando Bezana and Monwa Baleni, who together with some of their teenage mates, started the Kliptown Youth Project in 2007. KYP is a non-profit organization that offers free after school tutoring and personal development to the disadvantaged children of Kliptown. Today they impact the lives of nearly 400 children within the tutoring program, and also provide one balanced meal per day for each child. If they had the means, there are more than a 1 000 kids that would benefit.

Kliptown, the oldest residential district of Soweto, and home to around 44 000 people. There are about 50 taps with clean running water. For 44 000 people. That’s not a typo. There’s a KYP profile attached to this mail. Take a moment to read it, please.

Like you and me, KYP values integrity, passion, commitment, and professionalism (they are a registered NPO and subject themselves to an annual audit, for example!) Unlike most of us, they live their values every day despite enormous challenges. We have a chance to help them inspire hope, alleviate poverty on a sustainable basis and make a real difference to the children of poverty. To be able to do this through a sport is a privilege.

I’d like to help Thando and Monwa and their team in their mission. Specifically, they are building a library and I would like to buy them books to fill it. Andre Venter from The Travelling Library, and their outreach program Masixhasane, has committed a R20 000 donation towards the purchase of a lockable library cabinet that contains 800 high quality books (I’ve checked them myself!) and a multimedia centre consisting of a TV and 3 computers. (See http://www.masixhasane.co.za/downloads/Masixhasane_Brochure.pdf)

(IF THERE IS A CORPORATE LOOKING TO BUY THE BRANDING RIGHTS ON THIS UNIT, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME – THEY ARE FOR SALE!!)

My invitation to you is to support me by sponsoring me in my Comrades run. No amount is too small (or too large!)

Please follow me on Twitter @dougbjones and #plan2012 or #helpmehelpKYP.

Our target is R80 000 for KYP, and I am sure that we can get there. I have committed to allocating 50% of any excess above R80 000 to Wildlands’ Green Champ fund, in support of the Wildlands Green-preneur projects. Please visit http://www.wildlands.co.za/our-work/what-we-do/green-preneurship for more on these very, very worthwhile projects.

If you’d like to help these guys, please reply to this email with the amount you’d like to pledge. I can arrange for S18 tax invoices for any corporates or individuals that require one. If you’d like to make your deposit now, banking details are:

Investec – Grayston Branch Code 580105

Acc number 10011077125

Acc holder DBD Jones

REF: “YourName KYP”

…and I understand if you’d prefer to wait until I stagger in to Durban on June 3rd before putting your hand in your pocket!

Thanks for taking the time to read this mail. I value your support and look forward to sharing with you our progress.

Finally, please be assured that I will not be offended if you choose not to support me. I know there are an enormous number of similar requests and not all can be granted.